Talks on the Sacramentals, by Msgr Arthur Tonne - Relics

 "And God worked more than the usual miracles by the hand of Paul; so that even handkerchiefs and aprons were carried from his body to the sick and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out." Acts, 19:12.

Copernicus, the discoverer of the solar system, lived from 1473 to 1543 He was a member of the bishop's council in the Cathedral of Frauenberg in East Prussia. As in most cathedrals, many relics are preserved there. One day an official of the bishop was showing some tourists through the building. He stopped before one altar to mention the relics that were preserved and honored there.

In the group was a man who began to object. He wanted to know how one could be sure that these were the relics that were preserved and honored there.

"We have the Church's assurance," replied the guide, "and that excludes all doubt."

The skeptic was not satisfied, but he continued with the group as they visited the sacristy. There the guide threw open a cupboard that contained a lot of odds and ends. He took out a long tin tube, and said solemnly:

"Ladies and gentlemen, here is something of intense interest. This is the tube of the telescope used by Copernicus."

With evident veneration the tube was passed from one to another. At last it came to the same fellow who had doubted about the relics. He blurted out:

"How is it possible that so important an object of historic value can be left lying here so carelessly?"

"My good sir," laughed the guide, "the telescope was not invented until sixty years after the death of Copernicus. This tube is used to make tapers for lighting the candles. You believed without question my joking statement that it was part of Copernicus' telescope. Yet you called in question the trustworthiness of the Church's testimony regarding the relics kept on the altar. Please, ladies and gentlemen, excuse me for playing a joke to bring out this fact."

The doubter disappeared in a short time. He realized his unreasonable position. Like many another he was ready and willing to believe in any souvenir or antique outside the realm of religion, while he called in doubt the treasured keepsakes of Mother Church.

We Catholics honor and respect religious relics. They are sacramentals. The fact that they were related to Christ, and His saints raises our thoughts to these holy people, and helps us to imitate and follow them.

1. A relic means the body or any part of the body of some holy person. It may mean something that belonged to or was used by a saint: a book, rosary, article of clothing, or piece of furniture. It may also mean something that has merely touched the body of a saint. Our text from the Acts of the Apostles speaks of the handkerchiefs and aprons which were touched to the body of St. Paul, and then carried to the sick, resulting in many cures from all forms of disease. There are various classes of relics.

The instruments of torture or martyrdom are also relics, like the Crown of Thorns, the chains of St. Peter, the gridiron of St. Lawrence, and other objects of penance and sacrifice.

2. It is perfectly in line with the law and wish of God for us to venerate such objects. This was done in the Old Testament. Read about the rod of Aaron (Numbers 17); the mantle of Elias (4 Kings 2); and the bones of Eliseus (4 Kings 13:12).

Reason assures us that it is lawful to honor these religious souvenirs. Whatever is holy deserves veneration. For this reason we honor a church, a Bible, and the ministers of God.

Furthermore, it is a universal instinct and practice to honor the personal belongings of great men--the sword of the soldier, the pen of the writer, the books of the scholar, the tools of the inventor. What son or daughter does not treasure some lock of hair from mother, some ring or watch she wore or used?

The bodies of the saints were the temples of God, destined one day to share in the eternal glory of their souls. Their bodies shared in the holiness of their hearts. Those bodies are to share in their glory, yes, even in this life. God has made relics the means of arousing pious thoughts, desires and determinations. God has even worked many miracles through devotion to the keepsakes of His saints.

3. The methods of honoring relics are numerous and varied:

a. We burn lamps and candles before them.

b. We build shrines and reliquaries to show them honor.

c. We carry relics in solemn procession.

d. We make pilgrimages to their shrines.

e. We make offerings before them either by way of begging God for favors or by way of thanking Him for favors granted.

f. We apply them to the sick and to the well, to the tempted and to the troubled.

Always remember that we do not pray to relics. They are mere material things. They cannot see or hear or even move themselves, much less can they, of themselves, do anything for us in either a spiritual or material way. Nevertheless, we often pray before a relic, privately or publicly, begging the saint whose relic it is to obtain from God the favor we ask, begging that saint to secure the help we need to practice the virtues he practiced.

Again I insist, possessing a relic or venerating one is not essential to Catholic life. But it is a big help and inspiration. Make the most of these material means to following the saints in their service of God.

Should anyone make fun of our practice, tell him the story of Copernicus and the doubter. Tell him what a relic is and why we venerate these keepsakes of the saints.

Above all, show veneration to the relic of some saint, like St. Anthony. It will help you to grow in the virtues he possessed. Amen.